BJP demands probe into new garbage tenders in Bengaluru
New garbage tenders for Bengaluru led to the first face-off between new Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Wednesday. While Mr. Ashok had complained to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Karnataka Lokayukta, alleging “₹39,000 Crore fraud and ₹10,000 Crore kickback” in the new Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) tenders and demanding an investigation, Mr. Shivakumar hit back by saying that Mr. Ashok had become the “mouthpiece of the garbage mafia”.
Mr. Ashok claimed that the tender was brought to the Cabinet and approved just before Siddaramaiah resigned as Chief Minister. He claimed that “despite the protests of around 10 Ministers, the tender was approved allegedly under the pressure of the ‘high command’.”
However, Mr. Shivakumar asked why garbage tenders could not be held during the BJP’s time. “Their [BJP’s] Their own MLA told us that garbage tenders have not been allowed for the last 10-12 years. They went to court for everything. “In the end, the court ruled that the government’s decision was correct,” he said, adding that the MLAs were indulging in blackmail politics on the garbage issue: “Arvind Limbavali had completely stopped garbage transportation. “We gave a grant of ₹ 800 crore due to pressure from MLAs,” he said.
‘Seller will invest ₹6000 crore’
The contracts for end-to-end SWM collection, processing and disposal for the entire city have been split into two packages, North and South, and the same firm, Delhi MSW Solutions Limited, said to be a subsidiary of Ramky Group, has reportedly bagged them for 30 years, which may be extended for another five years, totaling around ₹39,000 crore. Mr. Shivakumar said the company will invest around Rs 6,000 crore and build waste processing parks on land provided by the State government. “Gas and electricity should be produced from waste. We had previously given permission to 14-15 companies to produce energy from waste. None of them were successful. Before taking this decision, I went to Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai to examine the issue.”
Mr. Ashok claimed that the tipping fee per tonne of waste, currently INR 260, will rise by 950% to INR 2,400. But officials said this was misleading. An official said that the current tipping fee is only for the collection and transportation of waste, and under the new contract, the company will also be responsible for processing the waste in the parks it will invest in and build.
FD objections
However, Mr. Ashok said the Finance Department had raised several objections, including that both packages be awarded to the same firm, a 30-year contract period and a 5% annual increase in the tipping fee, which appeared to have been rejected.
The Ministry of Finance recommended that the period be reduced to 10 years and increased to 2.5 percent, warning that otherwise it would become a huge burden in the future. He added that DPR consultant RITES Ltd. had initially estimated the gratuity fee at ₹1,398 per tonne, but it was later revised to ₹2,151 per tonne, an increase of over 53%, based on recommendations attributed to consultants.
Ready to face the probe
While the BJP has demanded an independent and time-bound investigation into the entire ISWM tenders, Chief Minister Mr. Shivakumar said he is ready to face any inquiry into the tenders. “Let them file reports everywhere. Let them investigate even if 10 crores are misused, let alone 36,000 crores. I am ready to face it,” he said.
It was published – 10 June 2026 20:20 IST
